Watching classic holiday films with the family: oooh. Watching when the house is quiet and the kids are in bed: ahhh. Old movies can be sweetly soothing, says Dana Klisanin, PhD, a psychologist in Saybrook, NY. “Movies from our childhood return us to a time when we felt safe and secure,” she explains. You revisit your younger self and characters who’ve become like trusted old friends. Plus, since you already know the ending, you can relax more deeply and enjoy the film’s nuances. The theme will likely be inspirational or encouraging in the face of adversity. And when goodness triumphs (when doesn’t it in holiday flicks?) you feel comforted that all’s right with the world—even if it’s just until the credits roll.